The Optimist LP surprised me. I'd not heard of Turin Brakes before this disc arrived in the mail, and somehow my quick perusal of its trappings went no deeper than the "Brakes" part of their name and the Astralwerks logo on the CD case. As I spun the album up, I was all set for some kind of Source Direct-style gnarly drum 'n' bass. Yikes! I couldn't have been more wrong! I literally had to tear The Optimist LP from my CD player and toss it in a drawer for a couple of days 'til I could perform the mental paradigm-shift necessary for me to listen to it properly. Turin Brakes is as far from breakbeats as is physically possible (Well, there must be some species of indigenous nose fluting that's further away, but you get the idea.).

Remote from anything electronic, Turin Brakes represents a sort of acoustic, folkie renaissance. They write simple, emotive songs that highlight singer Olly Knights' unique voice and guitarist Gale Paridjanian's bluesy slide style. The Optimist LP, the band's full-length debut, collects previously released tracks from their first three EPs, as well as a slew of new material. They at once command a strong sense of pop, expressed in beautiful melodies and lush arrangements, and a rootsy organicism that recalls artists like Van Morrison.

"Feeling Oblivion" starts the record off on a melancholy note. Its simple, circular melody is carried by Knights' piercing, intimate voice and mandolin-like strumming on the guitar, with strings and light percussion supporting the melody. "State of Things" is a passionate portrait of a failing relationship; its anguished lyric "You and me used to be on fire!" pierces to the heart, while bluesy guitar picking and an almost-but-not-quite Caribbean bassline help make the song stand out. It burns brightly for a mere three minutes, then goes out. "Emergency 72" is another stand-out track, its easy gait belying the song's lustful theme. "Just call me, you know, on my mobile number, cos I'm always in and I was just thinking about you," the song pleads. There's more bluesy guitar, along with crisp drums and expansive piano counterpoint. There's also more of Mr. Knights' truly compelling voice. His strong musical personality does much to make The Optimist LP stand out from the crowd.

If you don't make the same mistake I made, and get your mouth watering for breakbeats, you're sure to dig The Optimist LP on the first listen. If you've got to make some perceptual adjustments first, it might take a few spins, but you'll eventually be won over.